Process of and apparatus for vulcanization



y 1954 v .1. H. RAMSEY 2,683,285

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZATION Filed May 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A \\l W /'Ei bottom.

Patented July 13, 1954 OFFICE PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR VULCANIZATION Justin H. Ramsey, Ramsey, N. J.

Application May 22, 1952, Serial No. 289,321

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a process of and an apparatus for continuously vulcanizing elongated vulcanizable articles while they are traveling in the direction of their length.

In the preferred process and in the use of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus illustrated herein the elongated vulcanizable article is an electrical cable which is sheathed with an electrically insulating coating or cover, such cover being applied by an extrusion machine. The vulcanizing apparatus shown immediately follows the extruder in the production line, the thus sheathed conductor issuing from the extrusion head directly into the vulcanizing zone of the vulcanizing apparatus. In its freshly extruded condition, the elastomeric material such as natural or snythetic rubber forming the sheath of the cable is very soft and thus easily injured should it come into contact with any rough or edged object. The extruded sheath, prior to appreciable vulcanization thereof, is in fact so soft and prone to injury that it is frequently objectionably scuffed even by coming into contact with the relatively smooth bottom inner surface of the chamber at the vulcanizing zone.

Because, in typical installations of continuous vulcanizing apparatus, the combined lengths of the vulcanizing and of the cooling zone frequently exceeds 200 feet, and because of the appreciable weight of the sheathedconductor, it is impossible to prevent the contact between the conductor and the inner bottom surface of the chamber at the vulcanizing zone by subjecting the con ductor to tension to suspend it free of any intermediate support. the like for supporting the sheathed conductor inthe first part of the vulcanizing zone is impractical because such zone is subjected to high pressure and temperature, the atmosphere being steam, so that aftera short time such rollers, although initially fitted with antifriction bearings, tend to seize on their bearings and thus to scuff and mar the cable fully as much as does the plain bottom of the vulcanizing chamber.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel improved vulcanizing process and apparatus whereby direct contact between the elongated vulcanizable article and the container inner surface is avoided.

The invention has as a further object thereof, in the preferred embodiment shown and described, the attainment of the above result by the provision of a film oflubricating material The provision of rollers and all) interposed between the article and the container Yet another object of the invention, in specific.

embodiments thereof, resides in the provision of apparatus of the type indicated wherein the vulcanizing medium in the'vulcanizing zone is steam and the lubricating film between the elongated article and the chamber or container wall is water. Such object is obtained, in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, by directing water under pressure against the bottom of the elongated vulcanizable article as it travels through the elongated vulcanizing chamber, whereby to form the interposed lubrieating film and further to tend to lift or buoy up the article, the water preferably being that which condenses from the steam in the vulcanizing chamber.

The above and further objects of. the invention will be more readily apparent upon consideration of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the method and apparatus of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a portion of the specification:

Fig. l is an over-all view in side elevation of a continuous vulcanizing apparatus incorporating the device of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical axial cross-section through the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the section being taken at the zone of the lubricating water supplying sump;

Fig. 3 is a view in vertical transverse crosssection through the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, the section being taken along the lines 3-3 in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. i is a view in vertical axial cross-section through the apparatus at the entering end of the vulcanizing chamber; 7

Fig. 5 is a view in vertical transverse crosssection through the apparatus shown in Fig. 4, the section'being taken along the line 55, in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a view in horizontal axial cross-section through the apparatus shown in'Fig. l, the sec-, tion being taken along the line 6-5 in Fig. i.

The vulcanizing apparatus with which the present invention is illustrated is in general similar to that illustrated in my Patent No. 2,603,834. A briefdescription of such apparatus as a whole is given herein, in order that the manner in which the device of the present invention 00- operates therewith may be readily understood.

I The vulcanizing chamber 2 consists of a pipe It disposed horizontally, such pipe providing within it a cavity through which the sheathed product travels. Thechamber 2 has asteam jacket 22 disposed about it throughout its length,

6 from which it emerges as a sheathed conductor.

10. The conductor then travels through the connecting means between the extruding, head-and;

the vulcanizing chamber. The connecting means";

8 includes the splice box 3 and the vulcanizing. chamber entrance member which is more clearly shown in Fig. 4. To the..means-itbtheree is connected the valve means I2 throughhwhicb by means of inlet pipe M, the vulcanizing steam is introduced to the vulcanizing chamber. In a ty'pical installation such 'steam will-be at a pres sure-of from 260" to -250 -'pounds-per squareinch; The sheathed conductor 0 travels through the vulcanisingchambenz; and-then through the unit 2l-r,-which may beident-ical with the partial barrier providing --unit *which-is' the subj ect of Patent No.2,603'-,834 andwhichisdesig-nated- 18 in such' patent; Unit- ZG has for-its function the maintenance of-a stable boundary between the water in the cooling zone :28- and the steam in the vulcanizi-ng chamberfix Unitis provided with the drain'pipe'afl bywhich the vuic-anizing 'process: condensate is discharged througha tra;

The vulcanized and partially 1 cooled sheathed conductor travels through the cooling zone 28, which has an, inner cooling chamberprovidingpipe '3 2 and an outer j acket-34- thereo-ny The cool.- ing jacket betweenrthe inner and :outer pipes is supplied with cooling;- water=- through the inlet pipe 38', such water being "exhausted therefrom through pipe 35,. The sheathed. conductor Hi leaves the left-hand end-:of'thecoohng chamber through the exit seal showngeneral-lyat QUf-iIOm whichth-e vulcanized, cooled, conductor emerges into the atmosphere-.1 The conductor is then-fed catenary between the, "extrusion head and the right-hand end of pipe I54, The first direct contact between the, sheathed conductor Ml and the pipe lbfitherefore, would normally take place at azonesomewhat inwardly ,of the-outeredge of the bell nzouth'fi ifi In'the priorpractice;contact between the conductor I0 andthebottcminner surface of pipe lfiwvas practically continuous, with f. a rubber-to-me'tal' contact; throughout the length :02 travel of "the conductor-in such pipe. Itissuch rubber toemetal,contact; particularly at. and near -thev entering end-of :the "pipe 15, which the present invention is designed substantially to eliminates;

Thevulcanization of thesheathiis, of, course, progressive, the, sheath becoming harder and more resistant to scufii'ng and; abrasion as it travelsfurther to. the left: It is most important, therefore, that such sheath' 'beprctectedif possible'; from abrasion as bycontactwith-the bottom of the tube 16 in the first portion ofyth travel of the conductor through the entering end of such tube. As above indicated, the present invention accomplishes such result by interposing a film of lubricating material which is not incompatible with the vulcanizing atmosphere, between the thus moving conductor and the bottom inner supporting surface of the vulcanizing chambeix. In, the, preferred embodiment illustrated, the lubricating material. isi 50 introduced as to provide a substantial lifting efi'ect on the conductor, thereby still further tendingto relieve it'irom direct contact with the inner surface of the Specifically, where, as usual, the vulcanizing atmosphere is steam, the lubricating filmdsiormedof water. In such case, it is most economical and satisfactory to employ as such waten-thescondensate from the steam in the vulcanizing chamber, since such water is available im-the vicinity where it is to be used, and since it is heated to the same or very close to the same temperature-as that of the-vulcanizingchamber. Furthermore; it :is -most. eeonomical to employsuchcondensate, since -it is already at the pres-- sure of the vulcaniz-ing-z-one and the pump emplo'yedto introduce the lubricating fih'n forming waterinto the chamber thus needs to operate at but-a small ipressuredilierential. It also means thatno probiembf. waterle-vel maintenance in the. chamber imposed, asuvould-be thecase withi water" injected from :an outside source.

Inthepreferred embodiment of the apparatus of. the inventionqshown,'there'is provided at the zone just :inwardly of. the. bell mouth 24. :in pipe 562a first :film:formingrjetgimeanswi l; As indicated Jim-Fig. :1, to :ther'left ofwmeans as :there isza 'serieaofvspacedijet providing means ill-Leo as to. providewsubstantially acontinuous film of Water betweentheconductor andthe inn chamber wallv throughout the rentire-.vulcanizing apparatus. Aspacingon the order of fivr-r feet between. adjacent imeans: and between: means leic'and thenadjacent means-45 has been found satisfactory. It is :to; be unclerstooch however, that; such-series of. :means. J36 Slneed not extend throughout the length; of the =vu1canizing cham her, but may be provided only the entering end rof '1 the; chamber;: where the most 1 dc mags to the. vulcanizable material from: scuffi and abrasion r of it occurs in conventional continuous vulcanizing apparatus. The jet "means iii is formed, as shown, :by-the-provision of. a plurality of holes --ithrough the bottom wall of the pipe l6; such holes 50 being located in a vertical plane axial of pipeilfis Centrally'beneath such openings Silthere is provided a small-supply-well or tanlras. which is..formed-.from a: portion of sump. forming. enlargement .2 i to pipe is within member'ZG byuseof partition members Wand a'weldedtheretoc: suchwellite is immediate thermal.communication:with the sumpiu enlargement 2 l and-also :withithe steam jacket between the. elements !5 and 22 and that surrounding enlargement 2 it Thus the condensate in well 48-: remain's'at a temperature verynearly the same as-the temperature of the vulcanizing mediumun'the-chamber: The other jet g members, which are likewiseiormedin the bot-- tom-oi" pipelfi witlI-a seriesof vertical holes axial'of pipe-ifi are made up loy'the'use of? members suchas -52 which are inserted throu h holes in the -steam jacket 22' and are a welded thereto andto' the outer -surface--ofthe pine l6. As shownrasubstantial-portion of cu walls o1- such'wells 54 is in immediate thermal communication-with the steamj acket; so that it is delivered to the jet forming means 44 and at. For the purpose of insuring that the water introduced through the jets into the vulcaniz ing chamber shall be at substantially the temperature of such chamber, the pipes 52 and 64 are preferably insulated, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the delivery pipe 64 is disposed for as great a part of its length as possible within the steam jacket between the inner and outer members 66 and 68, at sump iii, and in the steam jacket between the chamber forming pipe 16 and the outer pipe 22. Connection is made between pipe 64 and each of the wells 54 by a branch fitting connected to the side of the well, as at it in Fig. 4. Pipe 64 may be run directly into the rear wall of well 68, also as shown in Fig. 4.

As is apparent in Figs. 4 and 5, the sheathed conductor It) lies immediately above each of the jet providing means 44 and 46. The water introduced under pressure through such openings 50 and 56, acting directly upon the moving conductor 10, buoys it up slightly, as shown in Fig. 4, both by reason of the direct, lifting, jet action upon it and also because of the formation of a film of water between it and the inner bottom surface of the pipe It. The continuity of such film is substantially maintained between successive jet forming means, the film, of course, being replenished and re-formed at each such means. Because in the preferred embodiment the water which is introduced into the vulcanizing chamber through the openings 50 and 55 is at or substantially at the temperature existing within the vulcanizing chamber, such water does not introduce any non-uniformity into the curing or vulcanizing of the sheath. Furthermore, because the pipe I6 is positioned horizon tally, because the sump 6| is in immediate communication with the pipe 16, and because the left-hand end of pipe I6 is drained through the unit 25 and the pipe 39, the condensate thus recirculated by pump 58 can have'no general'effeet on the water level in the system. The introduction of the vulcanizing steam under pressure at the entering end ofthe chamber, and the constant travel of conductor H] to the left, of course, tend to impel water in the vulcanizing chamber to the left and into sump GI and unit 26.

It has been found that sheathed conductors treated in the vulcanizing apparatus of the invention are characterized by their substantial uniformity of curing and also by the lack of any substantial marring or scuifing of the sheath. In this they distinguish from sheathed conductors treated in prior vulcanizing apparatus wherein the conductor had rubber-to-metal contact for a substantial portion of its length cf travel in the vulcanizing chamber between the sheath and such chamber.

Whereas for purposes of illustration I have shown and described a preferred method of and apparatus for vulcanizing elongated vulcanizable materials such as sheathed conductors, it

heated condensate under pressure at 6 is to be understood that such embodiments are illustrative only and that the invention, in both its method and apparatus aspects, is capable of considerable variation as to details. The invention is, therefore, to be defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim as new the following:

1. The process for the continuous vulcanization of elongated vulcanizable material which comprises passing such material continuously through a vulcanizing zone in an. elongated chamber, subjecting the material to contact with steam under pressure while passing through the vulcanizing zone to vulcanize the material, withdrawing condensate from the vulcanizing zone, such condensate being at substantially the same temperature as the vulcanizing zone, and reintroducing such heated condensate under pressure into the vulcanizing zone beneath the material and between it and the inner surface of the chamber.

2. The process for the continuous vulcanization of elongated vulcanizable material which comprises passing such material continuously through a vulcanizing zone in an elongated chamber, subjecting the material to contact with steam under pressure while passing through the'vulcanizing zone to vulcanize the material, maintaining a portion of the condensate from the vulcanizing steam in direct pressure transmitting relationship therewith and at substantially the same temperature as the vulcanizing zone, withdrawing such condensate from the vulcanizing apparatus and reintroducing the heated condensate under pressure in an upward direction beneath the material and between it and the inner surface of the chamber so as at least partially to lift the material.

3. The process for the continuous vulcanization of elongated vulcanizable material which comprises passing such material continuously through a vulcanizing zone in an elongated chamber, subjecting the material to contact with steam under pressure and passing through the vulcanizing zone to vulcanize the material,

maintaining a portion of the condensate from the vulcanizing steam in direct pressure transmitting relationship therewith and at substantially the same temperature as the vulcanizing zone, withdrawing such condensate from the vulcanizing apparatus and reintroducing the heatedcondensate under pressure at a zone at the entering end of the vulcanizing zone beneath the material and between it and. the inner surface of the chamber to provide a film of lubricating Water between the material and the inner surface of the chamber.

4. The process for the continuous vulcanization of elongated vulcanizable material which comprises passing such material continuously through a vulcanizing zone in an elongated chamber, subjecting the material to contact with steam under pressure while passing through the vulcanizing zone to vulcanize the material, maintaining a portion of the condensate from the vulcanizing steam in direct pressure transmitting relationship therewith and at substantially the same temperature as the vulcanizing zone, withdrawing such condensate from the vulcanizing apparatus and reintroducing the zones spaced longitudinally of the vulcanizing zone in an upward direction beneath the material and between it and the inner surface of the chamber to provide a film of lubricating "water between 7 the. material and-the;.-innersurf-ace ref the chamber throughout substantially" the entire lengthlof'r the, vulcanizing zone.

5.- Apparatus for the continuous vulcanization. of: elongated vulcanizablet material comprising' an elongated chainbenthrough" which .the-ma-, terial travels in the directioniofits length, means forintroducing into the chamber and maintaining there-in steam under pressureto formaax. vulca-nizing zone, a condensate containingv sump, in direct pressure transmittingrelationshipw with the vulcanizing zone of the chamber, and: means for introducing underpressure con densate from such sump ,intothe, vulcanizing; zone in at least the initialportionthereof .in. an upward directionabeneath the material and be tween it and the upper inner surface --of the, chamber.

6. Apparatus for the continuous vulcanization, of.el0ngated .vulcanizable material vcomprisinggo an elongated chamber through which the met-- terialtravels in thedirection of its length, means for introducing into the chamber and mainew taining therein bteainunder pressure to ,forma vulcanizing zone, a condensate containing sump in direct pressure transmitting relationship. with the vulcanizing zone of the. chamber, means a to maintainsuch sump and its contents/at subs: stantiallythe-same temperature as the Vulcan.- izing zone, and means for introducing under; pressure condensate fromsuch sump into the vulcanizing zone in at least the initial, portion-,-- thereof in an upward direction beneath the ma terial andbetween it and the upper inner surface of the chamber.

'7. Apparatus for the continuous vulcanization: of elongated vulcanizable materialcomprising anv elongated chamber through which the material I travels in the direction of its length, means for introducing into the chamber and maintainingtherein steam under pressure to form a vulcaniz,-. ing zone, a condensate containing sump in directpressure transmitting relationship with the=vul--- canizing zone,-means for maintaining thesump. substantially the" same temperature as the vulcanizing zone, and at. least one jet forming, means positioned on the bottom surface vof the. vulcanizing chamber at theentering end of the chamber, such jet formingmeans being so, oo si oned that thevulcanizable material travels dn ectly over the inner end thereof, a pump,., to drive saidlpump, means to 'supplythe: pump with condensate from the sump, and means: connecting-the output of such pump to the jet forming means, whereby condensate under prose. sure is introduced beneath the material and hes tween it and the inner surface of the chamber;

8. Apparatus the continuous vulcanization of elongated vulcanizable materialcomprising an elongated chamber through whichthe material, travels in the direction, of its length, means, for; introduc; g into the chamber and rnz-tintainingv therein steam under pressure to form a.vulcanize. ing zone, acondensate containing sump,in,direc,t. pressure transmitting relationship withthe vul-r canizing zone, means; for maintaining, the:

atssubstantiallyt thensameetemperature the vulcanizing -;zone,; andnacseries. of jet forming;- means ,positioned, in spaced. relationship along the-:bot.tom surface of,thevulcanizing chamber,

4 such jet formingmeans-beingso. positioned that the -vulcanizable. material travels. directly over the innerends thereofna pump; means to drive saidc-pump, means ,tosupply the pump with condensate from .thesiunpi and means connecting -the output. of such-pump to the jetiorming. means, whereby condensate under pressure is.- 1 introducedbeneaththeumaterial and between it i and the inner surfaceoithe chamber, to provide a lubricating watertfilm awhichisubstantially prevents direct contact between the material. and

the, chamber-, wall.

9. Apparatus for, the-continuous vulcanization of elongated vulcanizable material'comprising an, elongated chamber through whichnthe material travels the direction of, its length, means, for

introducing into the chamber and maintaining therein stearnunder pressure to form a vulcaniz-v ing zone, a-stea-rnheatingJacket disposed about 1 the elongated vulcanizing chamber, a condensate containing in direct pressure transmitting relations ip with-the :vulcanizing zone and Gated at the forward,, conductor entering, endof the. vulcan zing, chamber; the steam heating jacket havingimmediate-thermal contact with ,at least a portion of such: sump-whereby it ismaintained at substantially the same temperature a the .vulcanizing zone; and aseries of jet forming means positioned in spaced relationship along the bottom surface .ofthe vulcanizing chamber, such jet-"forming'means being so sitioned that 'the vulcanizablematerial travels directly over the, inner ends thereof, a jet means supplying well-in immediate communication with each such jet means, eachsuch well extending through and being at "least partially surrounded by -said steam jacket, ai-pump, means-to drive said pump, meansto supply thepurnp with condensate from the sump and means connecting the output ofv such --.pump to the jet forming means, wherebycondensate under pressure is introduced beneath, the -,-ma-terial and between ita and-the innersurfaceof-the-chamber at least partiallytolift the material and to provide a lubricatingwater film which substantially prevents-directcontact-between the material and the chamber Wall:

References. Citedinthe-fileof this patent UNITED STATES: PATENTS Number Name Date 2,069,087 Forstrorn et'al Jan, 26, 1937 2,291,344 Powell 2 July28, 19% 2,387,886 Devol Oct, 30, 1945' 2,553,938" Peirce May' 22, i 2,561,820 Ramsey et a1. July 24,195! 2,655,690 Henning Oct. 20, 1953 FOREIGN, PATENTS Number Country Date 475,618 Canada July 31, 1951 

